Database: Surveillance Audio, Dane, Eastman

LOCATION: Western Rif Mountains, 15 miles northeast of Chefchaouen

Participants: Tatyana Dane, Joel Eastman

TATYANA DANE – How long has he been dead?

JOEL EASTMAN – Ten minutes. Poul and Bas are doing a perimeter sweep now, but I told them they didn't have to.

TATYANA DANE – Why?

JOEL EASTMAN – He killed himself. Look here. Cyanide capsule.

TATYANA DANE – We searched him...

JOEL EASTMAN – Tatyana, I figured it out.

TATYANA DANE – Figured what out?

JOEL EASTMAN – Abstergo. What they're after.

TATYANA DANE – Well. Enlighten me, Mr. Eastman.

JOEL EASTMAN – They're after the Assassins. They're after us.

TATYANA DANE – They've been after you since before Marrakech. What are you talking about?

JOEL EASTMAN –Genetic memories. Abstergo is trying to alter genetic memories. They're looking for Assassins. And they're trying to erase them from history.

TATYANA DANE – The Animus...

JOEL EASTMAN – Isn't that how the Assassins used to connect with their ancestors? How they used to carry out the battle? They'd plug in, learn about the past, and take those lessons into the present to fight Abstergo. Abstergo's trying to quell a resistance. Kill it in the cradle. They're hunting us through the minds of every Animus user.

TATYANA DANE – So that mean... why are you smiling?

JOEL EASTMAN – You don't go this hard after someone unless you think they can really stop you. We're a problem. A big enough problem that Abstergo's going to such lengths to eliminate. We exist. We're not just fighting to save the present from Abstergo. We're trying to save history.

TATYANA DANE – That doesn't answer my question.

JOEL EASTMAN – I've got regrets. Strong ones. One of those is not having joined you guys when Dad tried to get me to all those years ago. I used to think it was too little, too late. What he was talking about, it felt like an impossible thing. I mean, Abstergo is everywhere. It's in everything. I knew it was wrong that they controlled so much, but I... I'd given up before I ever gave the fight a chance. Then Dad died, and at first, I joined to see what he was after. Try to keep him close to me. But I see it now. The fight. It's important. It's the most important thing. And as long as even one of us exists, we're a problem. We're a reminder that Abstergo isn't all–powerful. That there are shadows even they can't reach.

(long pause)

TATYANA DANE – You should've waited till the others got back before giving that speech. Bas might've even clapped for you.

JOEL EASTMAN – We have to find those scientists. If Abstergo plans on going wide with this new... thing the Animus can do... we don't have a lot of time.